John Farrell, AIB Sector Team; European Commissioner, Mairead McGuinness and ASA President, Anne Marie Butler.

McGuinness receives agricultural science honour

First female graduate of University College Dublin's Bachelor of Agri-Science degree

John Donohoe

Published: Fri 10 Sep 2021, 9:32 PM

Last updated: Fri 10 Sep 2021, 9:37 PM

European Commissioner, Mairead McGuinness received the ASA Distinguished Member award at the 79th annual Agricultural Science Association (ASA) conference live-streamed from the Killashee Hotel in Naas today.

The award, sponsored by AIB, honours a member who the organisation believes has made a significant impact on the Irish agri-food sector in the course of their career.

Dr Anne Marie Butler, ASA President said: “Mairead was the first female graduate of University College Dublin's Bachelor of Agri-Science degree in Agricultural Economics in 1980 and went on to carve a significant career in agri-journalism which saw her present RTE’s Ear to the Ground before taking on roles as a journalist with the Irish Farmers Journal and editor of the Farming Independent. Throughout her political career she has been a huge advocate for rural Ireland and the Irish agri-food sector and she is incredibly deserving of this award.”

The Drumconrath-based commissioner has also had a distinguished career in politics and was Ireland’s longest serving MEP.

This year’s event, sponsored by FBD Insurance, was officially opened by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue and featured a keynote address from US Secretary for Agriculture, Tom Vilsack.